Baja Arizona Salutes ALEC
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N30
That's what they're calling the ALEC protest up in Scottsdale on November 30. There's a lot of interest from around the country, this could be big. I know we're not Wisconsin, but I'm hoping Arizonans will turn out to protest the outfit that gave us SB1070. I'll be there. I don't know where we're staying yet, we tried to reserve the Charlie Keating Suite at The Phoenician but it was already booked. Looks like Newt and Callista beat us to it. Wherever we end up, I want to have a meet-up with Phoenix Kossacks. Mother Mags, passionateprotagonist, any and all, let's set something up.
SB1365
Of course, SB1070 isn't the only ALEC bill the state lege passed. The one that has the unions pissed-off is SB1365, the co-called "Protect Arizona Employees' Paychecks from Politics Act". What it does is make it illegal for people to have their union dues deducted from their paychecks. The anti-union "paycheck protection" bills that we're seeing all over the country come from ALEC. Here's the model legislation. This anti-teacher, anti-union, anti-public worker POS makes zero sense in a right-to-starve state and the AEA, the SEIU and AFSCME are suing. Let's hope they all turn out some members for the protest.
Oh.My.Gawd.
If you go checking out bills at azleg.gov, you can also find this little gem: HB2582. It's an anti-Sharia Law bill. Those Republican poo-painters in the state lege actually believe that Sharia Law is about to be instituted in Arizona and they wanted to nip it in the bud. Of course, the bill would have allowed laws based on Christian Fundamentalism in case a future Dominionist President Bachmann wanted to found the Republic of Gilead.
Redistricting
The Arizona Independent Redistricting Committee has settled on "grid maps" for the new congressional and legislative districts. You can see them at Blog for Arizona. These maps are just the starting points, they'll have to be tweaked to comply with the Voting Rights Act. Looks like we're all going to get new numbers though. Notice how they start in Cochise County and spiral around clockwise 'til they end up in Phoenix. The AIRC is holding public hearings on the redistricting process. There's one tomorrow, 9 a.m. at the DoubleTree. That's right around the corner from me, I might just mosey on over and check it out.
Education News
The first of three hearings on TUSD's Mexican American Studies program was held in Phoenix Friday. The hearings are to determine if the MAS program is in compliance with the state law that was passed to outlaw it. Coverage at the Star HERE and the Weekly HERE. It's not looking good so far, hearings resume Tuesday. Also in education, Voices for Education will host a forum on NCLB re-authorization and the implementation of Race to the Top at Rincon High in the Little Theater starting at 5:30 Wednesday night. Rep. Raul Grijalva will speak. Mrs. Zello and I will attend.
Thinking About Running
Arizona Capitol Times reports that former US Surgeon General, former Republican, current UA Med School Prof. and vice-chairman of the exclusive Canyon Ranch fat-farms Richard Carmona is considering a run for the US Senate as a Democrat. Tedski doubts it. I think the guy can win, myself. State Sen. Frank Antenori (R-30) is looking at running for Gabby Gifford's seat. I can't stand this guy. He's like a stealth ALEC operative. He introduced more legislation than anybody else last session. A lot of 'em were ALEC bills, but he's not a member. Either he's too damned cheap to pay the $50 a year or it's a Republican scheme to disguise the origin of their bills. Finally, on his Tucson radio show last Friday, Carlos Galindo said he has an interview set up for next Friday with a Democrat who plans to run for Gabby's seat. I'm going to do a Q&A with CG next week sometime, I'll see if I can get him to give up the name.
Update: Looks like we've got another candidate for Senate, David Crowe (h/t to cosmic debris). I don't know much about him, wikipedia just says software engineer, entrepreneur, Democrat from Tucson.
Oh yeah ...
Wildcat Football starts Sept. 3 when NAU comes down for their annual beating. Any Lumberjack fans out there ? I'm not sure about this Pac-12 thing, but I'm taking Arizona +14½ right now for the ASU game.